▶Securing And Commercializing Source Technology Related To Lithium Metal Batteries"
▶Published In Nature Energy, An International Science Journal
LG Energy Solutions and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) joint research team announced on the 7th that they had succeeded in developing technology that can dramatically increase lithium metal batteries' performance, attracting attention as next-generation batteries.
The joint research team succeeded in developing source technology related to lithium metal batteries that can increase driving distance by about 50% compared to lithium-ion batteries and significantly improve charge/discharge efficiency and lifespan.
Lithium metal batteries are characterized by significantly reducing the weight and volume of the anode material compared to existing lithium-ion batteries by replacing the existing graphite-based anode material with lithium metal. Through this, energy density and driving range can be significantly improved, making it a representative next-generation battery.
However, in the case of existing lithium metal batteries, 'dendrites' occurring on the cathode surface and continuous corrosion caused by liquid electrolytes have been pointed out as limitations that threaten the lifespan and safety of the battery. Dendrite refers to a lithium electrodeposition phenomenon on dendrites formed by the accumulation of lithium ions during the electrodeposition process of lithium in a battery.
The joint research team applied a 'borate-pyran-based liquid electrolyte' to solve this problem. This electrolyte serves to block the corrosion reaction between the electrolyte and the lithium metal cathode by reconstructing the solid electrolyte layer (SEI) with a thickness of several nanometers, which is formed on the surface of the lithium metal cathode during charging and discharging into a dense structure.
In addition to improving lithium metal batteries' charging and discharging efficiency, energy density can be increased to the point where it is possible to drive 900 km on a single charge, and lifespan stability can be ensured to the extent that it can be recharged more than 400 times.
In addition, unlike all-solid-state batteries, the lithium metal battery implemented in this study does not require high temperature and pressure when operating, making it possible to design a simplified battery system to increase the driving range of electric vehicles.
Professor Kim Hee-tak of the Department of Biotechnology at KAIST said, "This study visualizes the possibility of implementing a lithium metal battery based on a liquid electrolyte that was previously considered unfeasible." Hyukjin Kwon, a doctoral student at KAIST and the paper's first author, said, "We showed that the limitations of lithium metal batteries can be overcome through nanoscale control of the lithium metal cathode interface."
Geun-chang Jeong, Vice President of LG Energy Solutions Future Technology Center, said, "We will continue to take the lead in commercializing next-generation batteries based on differentiated technology through active cooperation with FRL(Frontier Research Laboratory)."
The link to the Korean version of this article is as below.
▷LG엔솔, "1회 충전→주행거리 900㎞ 실화?"… '꿈의 배터리' 원천기술 확보
By_BK Min, KDFN
kdf@kdfnews.com
Source_ⓒLG Energy Solution
